Tread-band for pneumatic tires.



w. F. SPREN'GNETHER.

TREAD BAND FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22.1918.

` 1,271,957 y Patented Ju1y9,11918.

fr# Y w""-"\\ 'III /NVEN TOR nearest,

WILLIAM F. SPRENGNETHER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

'BREAD-BAND FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES.

p Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentes .nn-.y a, reis.

Application filed April 22, 1918. Serial No. 230,039.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. SPRENGl NETHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tread-Bands for Pneumatic Tires, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

The present invention is directed to tread or protecting-bands for pneumatic tires, the object being to provide a preferably metallic band which may itself serve as a tread member for the tire, or be so constructed as to receive and maintain in position a rubber or equivalent tread4 band constituting a member independent of the protecting band proper. A further object is to provide a protecting band which may be either a continuous one-piece member encompassing the outer casing of the tire with which it is frictionally held in Contact by the pressure of the air by .which 'the inner sack is held inflated, or the band may be split transversely and the ends drawn together into abutting relation by means, of screw-bolts or equivalent means, the band in either event being caused to hug the tire casing so that there will be no rotary creeping of the same on 'the casing when the tire is i'n service. The advantages of the invention will be fully apparent from the following detailed description in connectionwith the acompanying drawing in whichp Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a portion of a pneumatic tire showing one form of my invention applied thereto, with -parts broken away; Fig. 2 isa cross section on the line 2--2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a similar' cross-section showing a modified form of protecting band; Fig. 4 is a similar crosssection showing a modification in which the tread portion is formed directly on the protecting band; Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6 showing atransversely split' protecting band; and Figt-G is a side elevation of the split band at the meeting ends of the band.

Referring to the drawing and for-the present to Figs. l and 2, C represents the outer casing and D the inner inflatable tube of the conventional pneumatic tire as well understood in the art. lEncompassing the tread portion of the casing C and extending laterally to partially embrace the sides theretecting lband 1 of is a (preferably) metallic protecting band 1 the inner surface of which conforms in curvature to substantially the curvature of the outer surface of the casing when the tire is fully inflated. In the form referred to the band 1 is a one-piece endless member and in practice is passed over the casing while the tire is defiated, the subsequent inflation of the tire causing the outer surface of the casing to be driven into firm frictional engagement with the inner surface of the band so that the band is firmly secured to the casing and rotary creeping thereof is prevented. The band is formed with an outer or peripheral groove or channel h the bottom a of which is cylindrical, the side walls of the groove being formed with inwardly turned lips or fianges b for gripping the sides of a suitable fabric-and-rubber tread band 2 projectin a suitable radial distance .beyond the anges b as shown. To prevent'possible outward buckling of the member 2 the same has embedded therein a suitable metallic flat stiffening band 3 disposed adj acentpthe inner face of, said member. To band biting intol the casing C,v I form the same `with rounded beads t which at the same time serve to sti'en the edges of the band.

In Fig. 3 I show a modified form of proformed with a peripheral prevent the sides of the reinforcing groove or channel k the bottom a of which is 4more or less arched transverselyv instead ofbeing flat as shown in the form firsty described. In ythis modification the side walls of the grooveh are likewise formed with inwardlyturnedlips or flanges Yb for securing in place the rubber tread. member .2', which in said modification is shown' with a serrated or roughened tread surface e as well understood in the art. This tread memband 3f, and the side edges of the member In Fig. 4 I show a modification in'which the reinforcin band-1 0 itself constitutes the treadA mem er, the same bein formed with a roughened or serrated trea surfacev e as shown, and well understood in the art. In this modication the band is likewise formedwith side beads t on the order of the beads t, t. 1

As `stated aty the outset, lthe reinforcing band may be split and the ends' brought to- 'bei' .is likewise .provided with a stifening 4gether into abutting relation by means cf.l

screw-bolts or their equivalents, Such a modification is shownin Figs. 5 and 6. We there have a split band 20 with side beads m the latter being cut away or removed for a short distance on either side of the ends of the band. The resulting reduced terminals w of the band are provided on opposite sides with perforated lugs or ears 21 which aline with one another, each alining pair of lugs receiving a bolt 22 by which the ends of the band are drawn together and into abutting relation, precaution against the rubbing of the tire-casing C by the portions w as they are drawn together being taken by interposing between the casing and said portions fw a suitable curved or transversely arched wearing plate 28, the sides of which are formed with beads m which aline themselves with the beads m of the band 20. By providing a split band su'oh as 20 the same may be sufiiciently relaxed or the ends of thereof parted to permit the same to be slipped over the casing C. By pulling out the bolts from one lug 21 of each pair the ends of the band may be spread apart considerably to permit of quick application or removal of the band. 'Ihe band 20 is provided with lips 1,' for securing in position the tread member 2. The casing C and inner tube D is the same in all the modifications and are identified by the samel reference letters in -all the views.

It willbe apparent from the foregoing that the invention is susceptible of considerable modification and other forms and detailed constructions may be devised without departing from the nature or spiritof my invention. IVhile I prefer a metallic or steel reinforcng band, I am not to be restricted to any particular material so long as the same is puncture-proof. The invention obviously need not be limited in its application to pneumatic tires.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

In combination with a tire, a protecting transversely split tread band encompassing the tire and having its side edges beaded, the beads being removed for a suitable distance from the' parted ends of the band thereby forming reduced terminals for the band, alining perforated lugs formed on the sides of said terminals, bolts for drawing said lugs together, and a wearing plate having its side edges beaded in continuation of the beads of the band and interposed between the tire and reduced terminals of the band.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM F. SPRENGNETHER. lVitnesses EMIL STAREK, ELSE M. SIEGEL. 

